The latest Food Security report from the World Bank has raised concerns, projecting that seven states in the North-west and North-east regions of Nigeria will face a food security crisis in 2024.
The report highlighted insecurity and armed conflicts as key factors diminishing living standards, with Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara states identified as the most vulnerable.
Beyond Nigeria's borders, the report also noted that other West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Chad, and Niger, will experience varying degrees of food insecurity.
The report stated, "It is projected that most areas in West and Central Africa will remain Minimally food insecure (IPC Phase 1) until May 2024, with some being categorized as Stressed IPC 2. Nigeria (far north of Adamawa, Borno, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara states) will be at Crisis food security levels (IPC Phase 3), mostly because of persistent insecurity and armed conflict and deteriorating livelihoods."
In addition, it highlighted specific areas in Northeastern states, such as Abadam, Bama, Guzamala, Marte, experiencing emergency food security levels (IPC Phase 4) due to limited household food stock, restricted access to markets, and limited humanitarian aid.
The report provided a global perspective, indicating that over 63.2% of low-income countries faced inflation levels surpassing 5%, with a 1.3% increase compared to the previous update in January 2023. It also emphasized that in real terms, food price inflation outpaced overall inflation in 71% of the 165 countries where data was available.
Focusing on Nigeria's internal situation, the report highlighted the precarious state of the country as food prices escalate. Citing the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), it noted that food inflation in Nigeria stands at over 33%.
Earlier warnings from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) in October and the United Nations (UN) in its Africa Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition underscored the risk of hunger for millions of Nigerians in 2024. Despite President Tinubu's declaration of a food insecurity emergency and its referral to the National Security Council, little impact has been observed as food prices continue to rise.
Recently, Niger State witnessed protests over escalating food prices and hunger, highlighting the urgency of addressing the food security crisis affecting various parts of the country.